Man dies after falling through ice

A downstate man perished late Tuesday after his snowmobile broke through the ice of Mullett Lake near the mouth of the Indian River.

By MIKE FORNESmike@cheboygantribune.com

A downstate man perished late Tuesday after his snowmobile broke through the ice of Mullett Lake near the mouth of the Indian River.The body of James Michael Larder II, 48, from Eaton Rapids, Mich., was found by rescuers Wednesday morning in about six feet of water.Cheboygan County Sheriff Dale Clarmont believes Larder was traveling alone when he left Topinabee on his snowmobile across Mullett Lake headed to a nearby residence. “Larder’s wife had called Central Dispatch stating her husband had come up to Cheboygan County to snowmobile and she last had contact with him at 11:07 p.m. on Tuesday,” Clarmont said. “He had stated to her he was heading across the ice from Topinabee to a residence on Quail Trail. When she did not hear back from him she contacted Central Dispatch.” The Cheboygan County Search and Rescue Team was dispatched at 2:45 a.m. along with the Tuscarora Township Fire Department. They were soon joined by a Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station Traverse City. Searchers used the department’s Hovercraft to conduct the search, fearing the ice to be unsafe for snowmobile traffic.“The victim is an experienced snowmobiler that became disoriented,” Clarmont continued. “This is a tragic accident. It is sad when a sportsman loses his life while doing what he loves — enjoying the outdoors.”Clarmont reminded all sports enthusiasts to stay away from any tributaries leading into or out of the inland lakes as the ice is not safe. “The ice near these waterways is always dangerous and should be avoided — especially now that the weather is warming up,” he added. Rescuers were assisted at the scene by Cheboygan County Life Support Systems.